Dear friendsI write this on "Black Friday" and heard on the news this morning that millions of pounds will be spent in this country between now and Monday as people desperately seeking bargains shop on line or in person. It's easy to get caught up in the panic - will I be ready, will this bargain help, is there enough time??? I must admit that in the season we're in, with so much financial hardship, I completely understand the need to find bargains where we can. I also know that Christmas is about giving, celebration, and special time with family and friends. I lament the anxiety and fear that is caused by the expectation of so much "stuff", and pray for all in our parish who are dreading the financial additional burden of Christmas. We can respond to the need for help in our generosity in donating financially to the cost of the Christmas hampers, that will go to 21 families this year. We can also respond by becoming a "Secret Santa" to ensure every child in each of those families receive a lovely gift. Details on how to be involved with each of these is on our emails, in flyers in church, on our social media - or you can find out by emailing Beth at <a href="mailto:stmartinsknowle@gmail.com">stmartinsknowle@gmail.com</a>.In amidst this, is the reminder of where we are in our church year. This week it's Christ the King - a bit like New Years Eve. The end of a church year and the start of the new, in Advent. It's the opportunity to consider all that has been, and to hear from our lessons on Sunday about whether we're ready. Not for Christmas, and the necessary trappings that Black Friday suggests are essential and need to be bought in a panic, but for the discovery again of who Jesus is, and the praying, again, for the coming of his kingdom.We watched a beautiful film on Wednesday in church, where we saw the end of the story in many ways, portrayed through the character of Mary Magdalene. It was powerful and moving, a reminder of the difference it made to know Jesus, and the inevitable response to be involved in continuing his story. This is where we are, I suggest, at the end of the church year, and anticipating Advent. We know the end of the story, so how can we respond to be involved in continuing the story?Advent groups begin next week, with the theme of "the secret identity of Jesus". There are three different times of group that you can engage with - do please try to come along and step outside of the other suggested preparations for Christmas, for a time of internal, soul-full preparation.You are invited to be part of our acts of worship this weekend - 8.30am our traditional Holy Communion, and 10.30am All together communion where the whole church family gather together.Come and celebrate the church's new years eve - and get ready to get ready.With every blessingBecky
Dear friendsAt school this week, I took the assemblies in which I asked "how do we know what love looks like"? I used Jesus' teaching about the greatest commandment, and there was a lot of excitement with the cake I used as a metaphor (perhaps too much excitement with key stage 1 children ... I may not be invited back!)We spoke about sharing, kindness in actions and words, giving a hug, being helpful, looking out for those who were lonely or sad, even if they're not your friends. As ever, the children of Knowle Park school are wise beyond their years and a delight to spend time with.This resonated with all we considered last weekend, with our wonderful gathering on St Martin's Day, where we remembered with love the story of our patron saint, and our church family. We then marked Remembrance Sunday with the message of love and peace - remembering backwards and remembering forwards.The General Synod of the Church of England met this week, and a huge item on the agenda was the ongoing conversation about living in love and faith, and how the Church might recognise and bless relationships where people are of the same sex. It is a conversation that requires love in the face of difference - and there are many different positions on the subject. For some, the recommendations for prayers of love and faith that will soon be able to be offered in church will not be enough. For others, they are too much of a departure from the traditional teaching of the church. As many have said, we have often found ourselves in places of different positions in the Church of England (whether about the ordination of women, or the issue of divorce, to name a couple) and we have managed to love each other as the body of Christ nonetheless. This is a conversation that will continue, and in time we will need to have the conversation in our church about how we navigate this season of the life of the church.One of the values we have identified as a PCC is: We are a church with a culture of radical inclusion. So we will want to find a way for all of God's people to find a place of love and acceptance. There will be more to say in the coming weeks when the House of Bishops in the Church of England release more details and information about the next steps.This Sunday the Church of England encourages churches to mark "Safeguarding Sunday", the opportunity to celebrate all the good work that is going on behind the scenes to protect children and vulnerable people, as well as to reflect on how they are supporting those who have been hurt or harmed. This is another opportunity to consider what love looks like in action - in the way that we are intentional about protecting those who are vulnerable, and in highlighting another of our church values: We are a church that believes every human being is precious and worthy in God’s sight.You're invited to be part of our worship this week: 8.30am we will hold our traditional Holy Communion service, and then at 10.30am we will hold our Sung Eucharist with Sunday Spirit for our young people. It would be lovely to see you there.With every blessingBecky
Dear friendsThis weekend we mark two significant festivals. Firstly, St Martin's Day - out patron saint, who was the son of a soldier and therefore (in about 300 CE) was required to serve in the Army. He was a Christian and didn't want to take a military oath, but was held in chains until he did so. Legend has it that while he was a young soldier serving in France, he came across a beggar who was freezing in the cold, and dressed only in rags. Overcome with concern, Martin removed his heavy Calvary cloak, cut it into two, and gave half to the beggar. He later had a vision in which he saw Jesus wearing the half cloak he'd given the beggar. He later lived as a missionary, with a heart for the poor and the sick, and before long was considered the most holy man in France. He was reluctantly consecrated as a Bishop in 371CE but chose to continue to live a life of humility and compassion, rather than adopt the more lavish and rich lifestyle of most bishops at that time.It is with some irony that we celebrate his festival on Armistice Day, and on the day before Remembrance, which means it is so important that our remembering is never about glorifying war, but always about giving thanks for those who gave their lives, whilst also praying fervently for peace.You are invited to be part of the ways in which we mark these festivals, to grapple with how we long for peace in a time in our world where there is so much conflict, and of course to reconcile our own feelings - and perhaps fear is a significant one for you - at this current time, within the promise of God that we do not need to be afraid, for He is with us.We gather at 6pm on Saturday evening, as the "Lord's people around the Lord's table", with Holy communion followed by fellowship in the form of cheese and wine (my thanks in anticipation to those who are organising this). On Sunday we hold two services - a traditional Holy Communion service at 8.30am, and then a service for all ages at 10.30am which will include an act of remembrance. You are invited.Please join me in praying for our country and our city this weekend, with various protests taking place, that there may be a desire for peace, whilst allowing voices to be heard.With every blessing as everBecky
Dear friendsI'm puzzled by the changing of the clocks, as the evenings seem to get so dark so quickly. Already there's a sense of "drawing in", and those natural spaces of community, whether wandering in Redcatch Park, seeing neighbours whilst outside, or even watching the world go by through our windows, become reduced as the curtains are drawn and we rush in to our homes to escape the cold or - in the case of this week - the rain! I'm also puzzled because, to be honest, it always takes me a few days to get used to the change, and in my head I keep saying "yes but really it's x o'clock"!For some of us, this will be a lovely, cosy time. A chance to put on the heating, get under a blanket in front of the TV, and retreat. For others, this is a heightened time of isolation and loneliness where the rest of the world is locked away. For more, this is a time of difficult choices - do we put the heating on, and if so, can we afford the rest of the bills?Initiatives like our Warm Space cafe try to overcome some of this - a place of warmth and welcome, of conversation and community, of food and fellowship. Gathering as a worshipping community is also so important. Someone said to me today "we are living in Babylon, so much seems to be broken around us". If this is true, how can we be the voices speaking differently? How can we be beacons of light and hope, in a place that is both literally and spiritually dark? This week we celebrate All Saints, remembering the stream of tradition in which we stand, remembering those who have gone before us, remembering those who have, and continue, to pilgrim with us. We remember we are not alone in our journeys of faith - both because of those with whom we share a faith, and because of course we are held by the love of God.Why not come and share the journey this weekend? We gather at 8.30am for our traditional Holy Communion service, and then at 10.30am for a Sung Eucharist, with Sunday Spirit for our young people. You are invited.This week we also hold our Pastoral Care course - a chance to find out more about how to listen care-fully and prayer-fully. It's open to anyone - particularly those who may be called to listen as part of their offering to the church, but for anyone who wants to be more fully equipped in being that beacon of light and hope for others who may need someone to talk to. Let me know if you'd like to come along.With best wishes as everBecky
